Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting for Assembly polls, in Deoria, Sunday, Feb 27, 2022. (Photo: Twitter @yogiadityanath via PTI) Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election 2022 Phase 5 Polling news Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said it will be a privilege to serve people of Varanasi till his dying day, hinting at a remark by Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav that people come to the city in their final days. Addressing BJP workers in his Lok Sabha constituency, Modi also claimed that for the opposition, the parties were “private properties” while the BJP is a party of its workers.
Meanwhile, a voter turnout of 53.98 per cent was recorded till 5 pm in the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, polling for which concluded at 6 pm on Sunday. A total of 61 constituencies across 12 districts went to the polls in this phase where around 2.24 crore voters exercised their franchise to decide the fate of 692 candidates in fray.
Ayodhya, the epicentre of the Ram temple movement, and Amethi and Raebareli, once considered Congress bastions, are the districts to look out for in the fifth phase. Apart from these, voters from districts such as Sultanpur, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Barabanki, Bahraich, Shravasti and Gonda will cast their votes.
The last two phases of the elections will be held on March 3 and March 7, and the counting of votes is scheduled on March 10.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said it will be a privilege to serve people of Varanasi till his dying day, hinting at a remark by Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav that people come to the city in their final days. Addressing BJP workers in his Lok Sabha constituency, Modi also claimed that for the opposition, the parties were "private properties" while the BJP is a party of its workers.
Hours before Gonda went to polls on Sunday, Samajwadi Party candidate from Colonelganj Assembly constituency, his brothers and supporters were booked for allegedly raping a woman and beating her up.
Police said they booked SP candidate Yogesh Pratap Singh and others on Saturday night after they allegedly barged into the residence of the woman, and assaulted her and her family members for ‘supporting the BJP’. Read more
Taking a swipe at the opposition in Uttar Pradesh Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed that for them the parties were “private properties” while the BJP is a party of its workers. Addressing BJP’s booth-level workers in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, Modi urged party workers to ensure that the poor receive the benefits of the government’s welfare schemes.
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday claimed that the people of Uttar Pradesh have decided to send 'Babaji' back to his 'math', apparently referring to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Adityanath, who was a five-time MP from Gorakhpur, is the mahant of the Gorakhnath Math. Addressing a rally in the Chillupar constituency of Gorakhpur in favour of SP candidate Vinay Shankar Tiwari, Yadav said, "Today voting in being held for the fifth phase and everyone has decided to send 'Babaji' back to his 'math'." --PTI
A voter turnout of 53.98 per cent was recorded till 5 pm in the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, polling for which began at 7 am on Sunday. A total of 2.24 crore voters from 61 constituencies across 12 districts are exercising their franchise to decide the fate of 692 candidates in fray in this phase.
"We have seen how much people have stooped low in Indian politics but when in Kashi prayers for my death were done, I felt elated. This meant that till my death neither I will leave Kashi nor its people will leave me," PM Modi said in a rally in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. "When these Pariwarwadis (SP) were in power, they used to put obstacles in whatever work we used to bring for development of UP. But in the last five years, the double engine government has tried sincerely for the development of Uttar Pradesh," Modi added.
Sultanpur district votes in the fifth phase of UP elections. (AP Photos)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said the UP elections is a fight between dynasts and diehard nationalists. Addressing a rally in Deoria, he also said, the previous regimes in the state shut sugar mills but govt run by Yogi Aditryanath modernised them and facilitated ethanol blending.
Janata Dal-United (JD-U) candidate Wanglembam Rohit Singh, who is contesting from the Kshetrigao constituency in Imphal East district, was shot at late on Saturday, the police said.
Kshetrigao will go to the polls, along with 37 other constituencies, during the first phase on February 28.
Police said the incident occurred at around 11.30 pm when the candidate was meeting some of his supporters at Naharup Makhapat, about 3 km from his residence. Read more.
Attacking the Opposition during a rally in Ballia district of UP, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: "They(opposition) gave the slogan of 'Garibi Hatao' during the 70s, but instead of removing poverty they started removing the poor: Union Home Minister Amit Shah."
A voter turnout of 34.83 per cent was recorded till 1 pm in the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, polling for which began at 7 am on Sunday.
Addressing an election rally in UP's Basti, PM Narendra Modi said: "By running Operation Ganga, we are bringing back 1000s of Indians home. Our sons, daughters still stranded in Ukraine will be brought back. GoI working day and night for them...Wherever there is trouble, we left no tone unturned to bring our citizens back."
Over 21 per cent polling was witnessed in the first four hours of voting in the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls for 61 seats spread across 12 districts on Sunday. As many as 692 candidates are in the fray in this round including Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who is contesting from Sirathu in Kaushambi district. He is pitted against Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) candidate Pallavi Patel. The voting started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. Around 2.24 crore people are eligible to vote in this phase. (PTI)
A voter turnout of 21.39 per cent was recorded till 11 am in the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, polling for which began at 7 am on Sunday.
Congress leader PL Punia casts his vote at a polling booth in Barabanki. He says, "BJP thinks it has weakened & is losing. So, they brought everyone to campaign -- from PM to HM to their national president. They're trying but people won't get lured. They've decided to make BJP lose."
Voting has largely been taking place peacefully so far, UP's Additional Chief Electoral Officer, BD Ram Tiwari, told ANI. "Voting being done peacefully at all places, barring reports of glitch in EVMs at some places. Necessary action being taken," he said.
UP recorded 8.02 per cent voter turnout till 9 am.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on Sunday accused the BJP of being responsible for 'mafiawad' in UP. "In 1996 when BJP-SP formed govt, 21 ministers were mafias, had criminal background. BJP is responsible for mafiawad in UP, they should be blamed. When I raised the issue in Assembly, Rajnath Singh had replied 'everything is fair in politics'," he said. (ANI)
Voting for the fifth phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls began on Sunday morning, with state Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya among 692 candidates, who are contesting on 61 seats spread across 12 districts. The voting started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. Around 2.24 crore people are eligible to vote in this phase. The districts where polling is being held are Sultanpur, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Barabanki, Bahraich, Shravasti and Gonda. (PTI)
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has left for Delhi to meet BJP President JP Nadda, ANI reported.
Amid the fifth phase of the UP Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Today is the fifth phase of the celebration of democracy in Uttar Pradesh. I request all the voters to exercise their franchise and cast their valuable vote."
Casting his ballot in the fifth phase of the UP polls, Sanjay Singh, the BJP's candidate from Amethi, said: "Amethi has never been anyone's bastion, be it Gandhis or anyone else. It has always belogned to the people...This is war against oppressors." (ANI)
The state of Uttar Pradesh has all the attributes that could make it a political and economic success story. It has vast land (243,286 sq.km), a large population (204 million) and growing, perennial rivers (the Ganga and the Yamuna), and a hard-working people. Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Charan Singh, Rajiv Gandhi, V P Singh, Chandra Shekhar and A B Vajpayee — all Prime Ministers — were elected from UP. Yet, for many years, UP has been considered a failed state.
I must define ‘failed’ state. Let’s start with the universally accepted human development indicators. Add the numbers on GSDP growth rate, per capita income and the debt burden of the state; add the official survey data on health and education; and add the statistics on crime, unemployment and migration. If the sum total leaves a bitter taste, it is a failed state. Read more.
Casting her vote in the fifth phase of the UP polls, BJP MP from Prayagaraj Rita Bahuguna Joshi said: "We are expecting 70% voters' turnout (in this phase), will win it big." (ANI)
Deputy CM and BJP candidate from Sirathu, Keshav Prasad Maurya visited a polling booth in the constituency on Sunday morning as voting for the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh election continues.
Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said, "I believe that people of Sirathu will bloom Lotus and make the son of Sirathu win with a big margin of votes. BJP Govt has been working for the welfare of the 24 crore people of Uttar Pradesh. That is why people have made up their mind to bloom the Lotus."
"On 10th March, with the blessings of people, the Cycle of Akhilesh Yadav who is flying high in the sky of arrogance, will fall in the Bay of Bengal. His bicycle had flown to Saifai first and now it will go to the Bay of Bengal," ANI quoted Maurya as saying.
Santosh Vishwakarma, 39, rests on a charpai outside his house as he listens closely to election news on his phone. The loud voice of a TV anchor discussing the next phase of elections fills the air in Macchlishahar’s Meerpur village. However, Vishwakarma says, elections are not the reason he always keeps the phone next to him. It is in the expectation of a call from Mumbai, offering him a job. Read the full story here
Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya offers prayers at his residence as voting in the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh elections gets underway. Maurya is contesting as a BJP candidate from Sirathu constituency, polling on which is being held today.
People cast their votes in the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh elections. Visuals from Jwala Devi Saraswati Vidya Mandir Inter College - designated as a polling booth.
Voting for fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh elections begins. 692 candidates in 61 assembly constituencies across 12 districts are in fray. Voters will decide the fate of Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya, minister Sidharth Nath Singh, Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra and others today.
Good morning and welcome to The Indian Express's coverage of the Assembly elections. Follow this space to get all latest news and updates about the fifth phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh.